Lion
The lion is ambivalent: solar majesty, courage, justice, guardianship, and resurrection coexist with lunar maternity, cruelty, war, destructive heat, and death.
Our paraphrase of what the sources say it carries.
At a glance
- Type
- Symbol
- Borne by
- 17 figures (6 are this, 11 carry it)
- Traditions
- Egyptian mythology (3)Persian mythology (3)Chinese mythology (2)Greek mythology (2) and 5 more
Figures that bear it
A model judged each figure against its own description, one term at a time. Is: the figure is a kind of this thing. Bears: it carries the thing or is marked by it. What a figure does is filed under motifs and powers. Open "why" for the sentence the judgement rests on.
- Barong is Indonesian folklore
why
In Balinese mythology, Barong is a lion-like creature covered in thick fur.
- Haetae is Korean mythology
why
In Korean mythology, Haetae is a lion-like creature with a horn.
- Hieracosphinx is Egyptian mythology
why
With its origins in Egyptian mythology, the Hieracosphinx possesses a lion’s body and a hawk’s head, embodying a majestic fusion of power and precision.
- Lamassu is Mesopotamian mythology
why
Found in ancient Assyrian and Babylonian mythology, Lamassu is depicted as a protective deity with a human head, the body of a bull or lion, and the wings of an eagle.
- Nemean Lion is Greek mythology
why
In Greek mythology, the Nemean Lion is a monstrous lion with a hide impervious to weapons that terrorized the region of Nemea until Heracles strangled it bare-handed as the first of his Twelve Labors.
- Pixiu is Chinese mythology
why
In Chinese folklore and popular belief, the Pixiu is a winged, lion-like guardian beast famed for attracting and hoarding wealth, having no anus so that fortune it swallows can never leave.
- Ammit bears Egyptian mythology
why
In ancient Egyptian lore, Ammit is a fearsome creature with the head of a crocodile, the torso of a lion, and the hindquarters of a hippopotamus.
- Anzû bears Mesopotamian mythology
why
Originating from Mesopotamian myths, Anzû is a lion-headed eagle.
- Centicore bears Persian mythology
why
Originating in Persian mythology, Centicore is a creature with the body of a lion, the tail of a scorpion, and a trumpet-like mouth.
- Chimera bears Greek mythology
why
Ancient Greek myths depict this creature as a fire-breathing hybrid with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail.
- Griffin bears
why
Revered in various mythologies, this legendary creature boasts the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle.
- Kirin bears Japanese folklore
why
Often described as a chimeric entity, the Kirin typically possesses the body of a deer, adorned with the scales of a dragon, the tail of an ox, and sometimes the mane of a lion.
and 5 more
- Luduan bears Chinese mythology
why
In Chinese mythology, the Luduan captivates with a lion's head, a rhino's horn, a dragon's body, bear paws, fish scales, and an ox's tail.
- Manticore bears Persian mythology
why
Persian legend describes this creature as having a human head, a lion's body, and a scorpion's tail.
- Simargl bears Slavic folklore
why
In form, Simargl is consistently described as a winged, chimeric creature combining features of a bird, a dog, and sometimes lion- or griffin-like attributes, giving it a composite appearance closer to a fantastic guardian beast than a conventional dragon despite sometimes being grouped with dragon-like beings in later reference works.
- Simurgh bears Persian mythology
why
Often described as a peacock-like bird with the head of a dog and the claws of a lion, the Simurgh embodies the harmony of different realms - earth, water, and sky.
- Sphinx bears Egyptian mythology
why
In Egyptian and Greek myths, this creature has a human head and a lion's body.